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BODY: The Benefits of Dandelion Root Tea

Everyone feels that extra pressure during the summer months to kick-start their beach body and whip themselves into shape – any shape. As an avid “diet junkie” I’m always looking for innovative ways to cleanse and detox my poor body. Granted, my biggest issue is my liver, seeing as I have just finished celebrating the completion of my BA and college diploma.

Heading into my next few weeks and acclimatizing myself to an office routine, I want to make sure my body, mind and soul are operating at 110%. After researching a macrobiotic diet, which I will address later, I decided I needed to find a substitute for coffee that would perk me up and benefit my health as well!

I’d heard rumblings about dandelion tea in the past, but even as an avid tea drinker I stuck with chamomile and green tea. After branching out and discovering the numerous health benefits to dandelion root tea, I can honestly attest to its detoxification powers.

Many people use dandelion root to detoxify, relieve constipation, soothe an upset stomach, and help shed water weight, among many other health remedies. The tea made from the dandelion’s root or leaves has been used in traditional Chinese and Native American medicine for centuries; it has recently been deemed as a way to cleanse your liver, helping you detoxify as you sleep.

Granted, there is limited science that backs up the numerous benefits people claim this tea holds. Studies are showing that dandelion does in fact contain liver detoxifying properties, and it may even contain cancer killing properties as well. A study in lab mice found that dandelion extract reduced alcohol-related liver damage, in case you’re like me and used to overindulge in tequila…

While the studies carry on, medical experts regard dandelion use as generally safe, with rare side effects of upset stomach and diarrhea – making dandelion root tea a good option if you’re looking for ways to detox and debloat. Before starting to drink this tea, make sure to talk to your doctor if you are taking any medication, since the weed can interact with some medications, such as lithium, certain antibiotics, and drugs that are broken down by your liver. It should be noted that dandelion tea can have laxative effects, so try it out at night if you’ve never had it before.

Warnings aside, the general consensus of dandelion tea users is that the tea helps in numerous ways, most notably that it can help to improve digestion, helps bloating, reduces risk of UTI’s, helps purify the blood, and helps to cure skin conditions. It should be noted that when beginning any detox program, side effects are common and harmless. Especially with dandelion tea, I found I broke out mildly on my face as the toxins worked their way out of my system!